Mahjong Solitaire › Hard Mahjong

Hard Mahjong

These are our 8 toughest layouts. The rules are the same as always. What makes them hard is the shape: long rows that pin their middle tiles, deep stacks, and few free tiles when you start.

The game above is Fortress, the hardest board on the site. In our tests it was cleared without a shuffle in only about 20% of games, compared with about 50% for the classic Turtle.

How to beat a hard layout

• Count the copies. Before you match two tiles, look for the other two copies. If they are buried in the same stack, matching the free pair can lose the game.
• Work long rows from both ends. Each tile you take from an end frees only the one next to it.
• Keep spare moves. Tiles that stay free all game, like row ends and lone stacks, are worth saving for later.
• Save your shuffles. They do the most good near the end.

The strategy guide goes into more detail. If these are too much, the easy layouts are a gentler place to practise.

All 8 hard layouts

The game above is Fortress Mahjong. Pick any of these to play a different one.

Fortress MahjongHard Five walls, one inside the next. The hardest board here. 5 layers · 30 free at start · 20% cleared Dragon MahjongHard Long and low with a tall ridge down the middle. 4 layers · 24 free at start · 25% cleared Arrow MahjongHard A long shaft and a raised head pointing right. 4 layers · 26 free at start · 25% cleared Cat MahjongHard A cat face with pointed ears, raised eyes and a nose. 3 layers · 22 free at start · 25% cleared Stairs MahjongHard A staircase that climbs from one tile to five. 5 layers · 19 free at start · 25% cleared Cloud MahjongHard A soft-looking puff with a deceptively stubborn middle. 3 layers · 20 free at start · 30% cleared Owl MahjongHard Big stacked eyes, ear tufts and two little feet. 4 layers · 48 free at start · 30% cleared Temple MahjongHard A stepped hall with two tall pillars on top. 4 layers · 24 free at start · 30% cleared

See all 24 layouts, sorted by difficulty

Questions people ask